Whether you are planting up a new garden or redesigning borders please don’t turn up your nose at the ornamental grasses.

So many available which not only look fantastic on there own, but as a host, absolutely enhance the appearance of many traditional flowering plants.

A perennial specimen which is a particular favourite of ours is Hakonechloa Macra Aureola. This one has to be the most eye catching of the shorter grasses. Elegant arching clumps with boldly striped gold and lime green foliage which does not fade whether planted in full sun or semi shade.

This specimen plant which is fully hardy in our part of Scotland dies back completely in late Autumn, emerging in Spring and looking fantastic for the whole season.

Hakonechloa Macra Aureola was given The Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Position – Full sun/partial shade

Hardiness – Fully hardy

Height – 40cm

I have been cutting back a couple of deciduous trees in the back garden which had grown so tall that the shade created was unacceptable. Although I love trees especially deciduous ones, living in Aberdeen we have to take advantage of every minute of sunshine. Its not that we see less sun than the folks south of the border, more a case of, when the sun shines it can feel lovely in the garden, however even in the Summer months in a shady spot it can be surprisingly cool. Most deciduous trees should be pruned in Winter whilst dormant, there are exceptions. Cherry’s and Birch bleed profusely if cut back when dormant, pruning of these should in fact be done in mid Summer when leaves are mature. Ladders placed against trees, climbing with saws and loppers can be very dangerous work, you cannot take chances. 

The first snow of the Winter fell in Aberdeen yesterday, I hope this is not a sign of what’s to come. Here is a couple of pictures taken of the garden without even venturing outdoors.

Purdee I told you it was too cold outside. She is one of those cats able to sit on a red hot radiator for two hours.